Cape Ann Museum (CAM) — Attraction in Gloucester

My husband and I came down from Mid Coast Maine to see the Edward Hopper Exhibit (now ended).

We arrived a little late for our 2pm entrance time but we had no wait. Neither was there a time limit to our visit, except closing.

The ticket desk is up a few steps from the main entrance. There are inside and outside ramps for those who cannot climb the stairs.

A Happy Surprise!

Immediately to the right of the ticket desk is a delightful set of galleries which have on display my favorite 19th Century Luminism School painter: Fitz Henry Lane. (According to the Internet, he was previously, mistakenly called Fitz Hugh Lane.) It's such a prominent suite of galleries, that the paintings must be of the greatest value for the Museum. Amazing.

But we came to see the Edward Hopper Exhibit. Words are difficult to describe our delight being in rooms filled with finished prints, saturated watercolors, studies, early and late works. Another surprise for us was the inclusion of works by his wife, a fellow artist, Josephine (Jo) Nivison Hopper. We learned of her influence on his work which was unknown to us.

The curators also included many of the Hopper's Ashcan School contemporaries in an adjacent gallery. It was wonderful to see some of our favorites: Robert Henri, John French Sloan, George Luks, and William Glackens. Also included was a small pen and ink drawing of striking workers by Thomas Hart Benson (another favorite).

Overall, our visit was extraordinary. Many thanks to the curators for giving us an extraordinary opportunity to see deeply into Hopper's artistic...

Charming regional museum. There is parking across the street and it's a short walk from the commuter rail so highly accessible. The entrance is wheelchair accessible accessible.

The experience of this museum is very pleasing. I like my museums full of unexpected corners and varied spaces and the Cape Ann museum does not disappoint. You can wander from intimate galleries of artwork and folk and historical art and artifacts into soaring spaces accented by monumental sculptures in settings of warm, honey brown woodwork so the overall sensual atmosphere is delightful and stimulating. The artwork itself ranges from the classical fine arts to the raw, daily expression of folk art and artifacts. Whimsy and profundity are side by side, giving a rich and textured feel for the region.

Parking is metered lot. There is a reasonable fee for museum entrance. If you plan a day trip, you can find a range of dining nearby. I am planning a return before long to try the Portuguese restaurant not far from the museum since Portuguese fish stew is one of the joys of life. You can feed mind, soul, and body on...

We had a lovely time at the Cape Ann Museum this past week, viewing the Winslow Homer exhibit, which was beautifully hung and researched. The curators went to great lengths to find work from this period of Homer's career and put together an intelligent, engaging show. I have two small criticism's regarding CAM. There is only one small restroom on the first floor of the museum, which had a line waiting, so to access the other restroom, I had to walk from the third floor all the way to the cellar. My husband and I drove from Cape Cod to see the exhibit and spent a good deal of time viewing the work. It may seem petty, but there were no chairs or benches in the exhibit, and since we are older, I walked out of the exhibit twice to sit in chairs and take a break in another part of the museum. So, while the show was wonderful, a few small conveniences for the viewing audience would have made for a better...